Air conditioner for casement windows



Oct. 4, 1955 T. .1. DEERING AIR CONDITIONER FOR CASEMENT WINDOWS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '7, 1954 cyu IN VEN TOR.

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United States Patent AIR CONDITIONER FOR CASEMENT WINDOWS Thomas J. Deering, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 7, 1954, Serial No. 428,335

laims. (Cl. 62-429) The present invention relates to an air conditioner for casement windows in particular, although it may also be applied to other forms of windows in common usage. In the application of room air conditioners to casement windows, which usually incorporate relatively small panes, the problem has been to fit the air L conditioner to windows not well standardized as to type and pane sizes, of which there are more than fifty at the present time. Another outstanding problem has been to avoid mutilation and structural alteration of the window frame or sash in applying an air conditioner thereto, all of which has been an expensive procedure, and one which a tenant cannot always prevail upon a landlord to permit. It is desirable, therefore, to provide an air conditioner which may be fitted quickly and without mutilation of the mullions, muntins, and other parts of a casement window, thereby to conserve time, labor and expense, in preparing a room for air conditioning.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a novel construction in room air conditioners, which will permit quick and easy application of the machine to casement type windows, without structural alteration or mutilation of the windows.

Another object is to provide a window-mounted air conditioner which may be installed in a few minutes, by the mere removal of one or two panes of glass from the casement window sash.

Another object of the invention is to achieve the foregoing objectives, without undue restriction upon the capacity of the air conditioner.

A further object is to improve the construction and arrangement of parts or constituents in a room air conditioner, to achieve quiet operation, and effective cooling of the condenser and compressor, the latter being advantageously located remotely from the condenser section of the machine, in the higher capacity models.

Another object is to attain the foregoing advantages and objectives with the use of the simplest and least expensive means possible, and Without unduly adding to the cost of manufacture and assembly of the machine.

A further object is to reduce the number of electric motors required to operate the air conditioner, and to simplify the electrical system thereof.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the new and im proved air conditioner of the invention applied to a casement window.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the air conditioner with housings removed to illustrate the interior construction.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the air conditioner as viewed from right to left on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the air conditioner with housings removed, the front being considered the portion which extends into the room.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the mounting 2,719,411 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 a of:

panel of the air conditioner, showing the condensing unit support shelf with the condensing unit omitted.

Figure 6 is a fragmental view similar to Figure 5, showing the condensing unit in place upon its support shelf.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a baffle constituting a detail of the invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an air turbulence generator constituting an element of the: condensing unit.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, showing a modified form of turbulence generator.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a modified arrangement of the unit elements.

As stated in the foregoing objects of the invention, there is a present need for a room air conditioner, window mounted, which may be installed upon a casement window without physical alteration or mutilation of the window structure. Heretofore, the higher capacity air conditioner was installed according to the disclosure of my issued U. S. Patent No. 2,610,483, dated September 16, 1952, utilizing the area of two window panes, with twin housings of the air conditioner straddling a rnullion of the window frame or sash. The use of two window pane openings was adopted, in order to locate the condensing unit and the compressor unit outside the window, without unduly crowding the mechanisms into a single exterior housing which might have to extend a substantial distance outwardly from the window, and possibly create a hazard to persons using the walks or thorofares below.

In accordance with the present invention, the need for utilizing twin exterior housings for the higher capacity air conditioner has been eliminated. A single exterior housing is made to suffice, by locating the compressor interiorly of the window and providing for effective cooling therefrom from outside. Moreover, the single exterior housing may be so dimensioned, and yet adequately accommodate the condensing unit, as to project through the smallest of window openings of casement windows. A further very important consideration is the offsetting of the condensing unit housing, as illustrated at 19 of Figure 1, so that the evaporator section inside the room may be substantially centered in the window, without interference from wall returns or other obstructions, while at the same time utilizing a single off-center window pane opening in disposing the condenser section outside the room. This makes it possible to achieve a simplified air conditioner installation in any casement window two or more panes wide, with the evaporator or cooling section centered in any window which has an even number of panes in its width, even though the window is divided vertically by a center mullion. The new arrangement makes it possible to open one of the sashes of a twin-sash casement window, with the air conditioner in position upon the other sash.

Other advantages and improvements will be detailed hereinafter, as the description proceeds.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, 12 and 113 indicate the sashes of a casement window, the frame being shown at 14. A stationary vertical mullion 15 forms part of the window frame, and the sashes if hinged may close against the mullion. As is usual, the window opening may be bounded by a sill 16 and one or more wall returns indicated at 17. The sashes carry the glass panes or lights 18. Although the drawing shows a window which is more than two panes wide, it should be understood that the device of the invention is applicable to the narrower windows as well, containing only two panes in the width thereof, in which case both sashes would ordinarily be bounded by a wall return such as in indicated at 17. Either or both of the sashes may be hinged to swing on vertical hinge pins.

In the example illustrated, the air conditioner is mounted upon the sashes, with the lowermost pane of the left sash removed to permit extension of the housing of the condenser section 19 outside the room. The lower pane of the right sash may or may not be removed, depending upon the nature of the fasteners 20 employed in mounting the air conditioner. In the present instance, the second mentioned pane has been removed in order to accommodate the particular type of fastener 20 herein disclosed (Figure 2). The air conditioner overlies the sill 16, but need not necessarily rest thereon due to the fact that the sashes can supply the sole support for the air conditioner, if desired. The mounting involves the use of an upright mounting panel 21 which spans the two sashes and is secured thereto by means of the fasteners 20, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In the broad sense, the room air conditioner chassis includes a condenser section 19, an evaporator section 22, and a compressor compartment 23, these elements being so arranged that the evaporator section and the compressor compartment are contiguous to one another for disposition inside a room, while the condenser section 19 projects through one of the lights of a casement window sash to a location outside the room. As is plainly illustrated by the drawings, the interior housing 23 which normally covers the evaporator section and the compressor compartment, is about twice as large as the housing 24 for the condenser section 19, and the housings are angularly related to form an L-shaped structure. More specifically, the smaller housing 24 which projects through a window light, is offset relative to the larger housing 23 so that a line or plane Which transversely bisects the larger housing passes alongside of, but not through, the condenser housing 24.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the evaporator and compressor elements are located to one side of the mounting panel 21, whereas the condenser section 19 is located at the opposite face of the mounting panel. As illustrated by Figure 3, the motor 24, blower 25, condenser 26 and its shroud 27, along with other elements of the condenser section, may be assembled upon a shelf-like support comprising a pair of spaced parallel upright members 28 and a pair of spaced parallel hori zontal members 29, joined together in substantial L- shape. Between the parallel members 29 is arranged a metallic sheet forming with the members 29 a condensate pan 30 which is substantially water-tight. By way of a gutter or opening 31 provided in the mounting panel 21, water of condensation from the pan 32 of the evaporator section is directed into the pan 30 of the condenser section. The spaced uprights 28 of the condenser supporting shelf may be secured to the rear face 33 of the mounting panel in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts or screws. It will be understood, therefore, that the whole assembly comprising motor 24, blower 25. condenser 26, and shroud 27, all arranged upon and fixed to the shelf-like support 28, 29, constitutes a unitary structure mountable upon the rear face 33 of the mounting panel.

In like manner, a second shelf-like support for the evaporator and condenser mechanisms, may be fashioned from a pair of spaced parallel uprights 34 and a pair of spaced parallel horizontal members 35 joined together at substantial right angles along the line 36, the upright members 34 being attachable to the front face 37 of the mounting panel 21 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws or bolts 38. As was stated previously, this second shelf-like support includes a watertight pan 32 which may gather condensate from the evaporator designated at 39. Upon the pan 32 may be mounted a pair of uprights 40 which support the evaporator 39, a blower 41, and a pair of stanchions 42 that carry bearings 43 for the rotary shaft 44 of the blower wheel 45. Mounted atop the blower 41 is a plenum 46 which directs chilled air from the evaporator and blower upwardly through the grille 47 (Figure 1) of the air conditioner housing 23. If desired, the forward area 48 of the evaporator may be covered by a suitable filter, not shown.

The compressor compartment 23 contains the usual hermetically sealed compressor unit 49 which is separated from the evaporator section by a transverse wall 50. This wall may advantageously be insulated against passage of heat, and through it at the location 51 may extend the necessary electric conductors 52, which lead to a switch having push-buttons 53 whereby operation of the machine may be controlled. The usual suction and discharge lines 54 and 55 operatively connect the compressor with the evaporator and the condenser, in a manner well known to the art. The character 56 indicates a pair of capillary tubes which likewise form part of the operating system. A capacitor is indicated at 57.

With further reference to the condenser section 19, it may be noted that the motor shaft end 58 extends through an opening 59 of the mounting panel 21, to enter the evaporator section wherein a pulley 60 fixed to the shaft end serves as a driver for the evaporator blower wheel 45. The drive may be effected by training a belt 61' over the pulley 60 and a second pulley 62 which is fixed to the blower shaft 44. By means of this arrangement, the same motor 24 that activates the condenser blower 25 serves also to activate the evaporator blower 41. The arrangement is simple, inexpensive, noiseless and substantially free of maintenance expense. Aiforded also is the added advantage that the two blowers 25 and 41. may be driven at different speeds from the same motor, by means of a mere substitution of pulleys at the locations 60 and 62.

The shaft end 58' of motor 24 enters the housing of blower 25 through a side opening 59, and is connected at 60 to the condenser blower wheel 61. The character 62 indicates a second opening for entry of air into the blower housing. The air blast from blower 25 is directed into the shroud 27 through an opening 63 in the shroud. The air forced into the shroud may escape rather freely between the fins of the condenser 26 for cooling same, but some portion of the air will enter the open end 64 of a hose or conduit 65 which delivers cooling air to the compressor compartment 23. To reach the compressor compartment, the hose or conduit 65 may enter an opening 66 provided in the mounting panel 21. As is best illustrated upon Figure 3, the hose or conduit 65 delivers cooling air from the shroud 27 to the compressor compartment, while the 'air exhausting from said compartment leaves through an opening 67 provided in the mounting panel at a location above the hose or conduit. The air entry and exhaust openings 66 and 67 are clearly illustrated upon Figure 5 As is well known, water of condensation from the evaporator must necessarily be dissipated or removed in some way, preferably by driving it through the condenser and into the atmosphere exteriorly of the room undergoing cooling. In the present instance, Water of condensation drops into the pan 32 of the evaporator section, and by Way of the gutter or opening 31, such Water gravitates into the pan 30 of the condenser section. It will be understood, of course, that pan 30 is disposed at a slightly lower elevation than pan 32, in order to accumulate the condensate. It has been common practice heretofore, to remove condensate from the condenser section pan by means of a slinger ring, a portion of the periphery of which was submerged in the condensate. The slinger ring, being power driven, would lift some of the condensate from the pan into the path of an air blast acting to dislodge droplets from the slinger ring and direct them onto and through the condenser. In accordance with the improvements herein disclosed, condensate is lifted from the pan 30 and directed through thevcondenser, without-the-aid of a slinger ring or any other moving part, and the action is completely automatic and noiseless. The improved means of this invention for disposing of condensate, is described as follows.

As indicated upon Figure 6, the blower 25 directs its air blast into the shroud 27 at the approximate level of condensate in the pan 30. The blast of air is deflected upwardly by the inclined plates 68 of a pair of spaced baflie members 70 located within the shroud 27 a short distance from the blower outlet 63. Since the incline of the plate begins at the level of pan 30, water of condensation will be driven up the incline by the blast, and be directed onto the condenser at locations well above the pan 30. Oblique substantially upright wings 69 of the baffle members serve to direct portions of the moistureladen air toward the opposite vertical ends of the shroud, and thereby further distribute the condensate over the condenser area. The bafile member which is closest to the blower motor 24, obviously tends to direct a portion of the air blast toward and through the hose or conduit 65, which carries the air as coolant into the compartment 23 of the compressor 49. After performing to cool the compressor, this air which had been shunted from the shroud 27, leaves the compressor compartment through the exit port 67 and exhausts into the condenser section 19 whence it may pass out to atmosphere through grilles 71 in section 19.

As an aid to atomization of condensate so moved by the blower 25, there is provided in the path of the air blast a turbulence generator, which may be in the form of an upright rigid plate 72 located about midway between the baflle members 70, 70, this plate having a front face 73 disposed substantially at right angles or transversely to, the direction of the air blast movement. As the blast of air strikes the front face 73 of the plate, a vacuum is produced behind the plate. Condensate from pan 3b is attracted by the vacuum, and is broken up or atomized thereby, in condition for effective disposal upon and through the fins of the condenser as the blower operates. Under actual working conditions, it has been discovered that the turbulence generator operating in con junction with the bathe members 70, 70 removes condensate from the pan 30 more quickly and more thoroughly than is possible with the use of a slinger ring, and this without employment of moving parts or any power requirements whatsoever.

The turbulence generator72 may include side edges and a top which extend upwardly a substantial distance within the shroud as shown by Figure 6, and it may include a base 74 to be secured either to the bottom of the pan 30 or to the housing of the blower near the exit V port 63, for firm and substantial mounting thereof near said port. Between the base 74 and the lower portion of plate 73, there may be provided an incline 75 to augment the desired general upsweep of the air blast into the shroud. Referring to Figure 7, the bafl lle member there shown may likewise be provided with a base 76 whereby the baffle member may be supported, and brazed or otherwise fixed to the pan 30 in position to deflect the blast from blower 25 in the manner heretofore explained.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified form of turbulence generator, wherein the plate portion 77 thereof is formed angularly to provide an upright rib or apex 78, the purpose of which is to divide the air blast directed thereto and to increase the vacuum effect behind the plate. By this means, the width of the plate may be increased if desired, without materially impeding the air flow from the blower. This is intended to show that the plate portion of the turbulence generator is not necessarily planar and at exact right angles to the direction of the air flow. The primary requirement, therefore, is that the plate shall produce a vacuum behind it during operation of the blower 25.

Upon the several drawing figures, the characters 79 indicate the coils of the condenser, whereas at 80 are indicated the coils. of the evaporator. At 81, Figure 4, is shown a plate or panel which serves as a wall for the compressor compartment, to preclude escape of compressor cooling air through the grilles 82 and 83 at the front of the air conditioner. At is an opening in the mounting panel, to accommodate the liquid line 55.

in Figure 5, 84 indicates an opening in the mounting panel, which provides communication between the exterior condenser compartment at grilles 71, and the evaporator section 22, whereby fresh air from outside may be drawn into the room by means of blower 41. This fresh air opening may be furnished with an adjustable gate or damper (not shown), in accordance with common practice in the art. As was previously pointed out, the wheel 45 of blower 41 draws air from the evaporator compartment through the blower housing openings 85, and discharges the air through the top exit opening 86 of a plenum 46 mounted upon the blower housing. The opening 86 may direct cooled air through the grille 47 of the conditioner, for lowering the room temperature. As will readily be undertsood, the grille 47 itself, or any common form of baflle at the plenum opening 86, may be employed to direct the chilled air angularly upwardly and away from the window as it discharges from the grille, this being common practice.

, In preparing to mount the air conditioner upon a window, the mounting panel 21 may be shortened in length if necessary, by cutting off the ends thereof, so that the panel will span the width of two window panes as illustrated by Figure 1. At the four corners, the panel may be pierced or drilled, as at 87 of Figure 4, to receive suitable fasteners whereby the panel corners may be attached to the window sashes. An example of a suitable fastener for that purpose is indicated at 20 of Figure 2, this being in the form of a hook to engage the sash iron, and a thumb nut or the like for tightening the hook against the sash.

in utilizing this form of mounting means, the panes are to be removed from the two lights of the sash, at a common level. The hooks may then extend through the window openings, to engage the adjacent sash irons or mullions at the ends of the mounting panel, while the condenser housing 24 projects through one of the open ings to the outside of the window.

A slightly different form of mounting may be effected by providing the mounting panel with additional fastener-receiving holes about midway between the panel ends, as at 89 of Figure 5. By passing the fasteners 20 through these intermediate holes 89, and through the holes 87 at the condenser end of the panel, the panel may be mounted solely upon one sash of the window, leaving the other sash free of attachment to the air conditioner so that the free sash may be hingedly moved in the normal manner. In such case, there would be no need to remove the glass from the light of the free sash, and gasketing of the mounting panel to the free sash could be omitted. It will be understood, of course, that gasket material or sealing strips normally are employed wherever the mounting panel abuts against the sash, to avoid leakage of air about the air conditioner housing. This is a practice common in the art, and need not therefore be explained in detail here.

Referring now to Figure 10, it may be noted that this illustration suggests a reversal of the elements shown in Figure 2, so that the condenser unit is located behind the evaporator compartment rather than behind the compressor compartment. This rearrangement makes possible a direct coupling of the evaporator blower wheel 45 with the shaft 58 of the motor 24, the latter being within the condenser compartment as before, thereby eliminating entirely the belt drive illustrated at 61 in the Figure 2 form of the device. As will be understood, the Figure 10 modification involves the use of a bored hub 91 on the blower wheel 45, to receive the forward end of motor shaft 58 which is fixedly secured by key or set-screw, to the hub.

7 It is unnecessary in this case to provide separate journals for the blower wheel shaft, since the motor 24 provides the required bearings. The mounting panel 21 is of course apertured at 92 to permit extension of motor shaft 58 into the evaporator compartment, where blower wheel 45 is located.

In the Figure modification, it may be desirable to provide for circulation of cooling air within the compressor compartment 23, and this may be achieved by providing a suitable hose or duct 93 having one of its open ends 94 inserted through an opening 95 in the partition wall 50, while the opposite end 96 is disposed at the intake port 59 of the blower 25. As the blower creates a suction in the hose or duct 93, air from the compressor compartment 23 is displaced to the condenser blower, and is replenished by way of an intake port 97 of the compressor compartment. This port 97 preferably has communication with atmospheric air outside the window, and is therefore formed in the mounting panel 21 at a location behind the compressor compartment. Should it be considered desirable to do so, the hose or duct arrangement may be in accordance with Figure 2, wherein the outer end of the hose or duct has connection with the shroud 27.

In all respects other than the foregoing, the modified form of the device illustrated by Figure 10 may be identical with the Figure 2 arrangement. It is for this reason that Figure 10 is not detailed to the extent of Figure 2, except insofar as the two forms of the device are structurally distinguishable. It may be noted that in the device of Figure 10 the condenser section 19 is at the right of the air conditioner, whereas in Figure 2 it is at the left. Should it be desirable to construct the Figure 10 device with the condenser section at the left, this may be done by merely reversing the positions of the compressor and evaporator sections. Similarly, in Figure 2, the condenser section 19 may be disposed to the right of the air conditioner, by locating the compressor to the right of the evaporator, this being a most obvious procedure.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details of the device may be resorted to, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A room air conditioner comprising in combination, an evaporator, a condenser, and means including the condenser for maintaining a chilled condition of the evaporator, a shallow water pan beneath the condenser, a motor driven blower of air having an exit port through which a blast of air is directed toward the condenser, a portion of said port being at approximately the level of water in the pan, and means in the path of the air blast from the blower, for elevating some of the pan water and subjecting the same to atomization by the air blast.

2. A room air conditioner comprising in combination, an evaporator, a condenser, and means including the condenser for maintaining a chilled condition of the evaporator, a shallow water pan beneath the condenser, a motor driven blower of air having an exit port directing a blast of air over the water of the pan and in the direction of the condenser, bafile means including inclined plates fixed substantially at pan level, and in the path of the air blast, for elevating some of the water from the pan as the blast drives the water up the inclined plates, and a turbulence generator in the form of an upright stationary strap having front and rear faces arranged transversely to the air blast, the front face being exposed to the air blast, thereby creating a vacuum behind the rear face of the strap and into which some of the pan water is attracted, to induce atomization of the water preparatory to impingement upon the condenser.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, in which is included a shroud receiving the moisture-laden air blast, and an opening in the shroud to which the condenser is fitted, for confining said air blast against escape otherwise than through the condenser.

'4. A room air conditioner for application to a a multiple-light casement window, comprising in combination, a chassis including a condenser section, an evaporator section, a compressor compartment, and a planar mounting panel, the evaporator section and the compressor compartment being extended from one face of the mounting panel, and the condenser section being extended from the opposite face of said panel, a water pan in the condenser section, means for removing water from said pan, and a condenser overlying said pan, a hollow shroud having an open side fitted to the condenser, and an opposite side apertured to provide an air entry port, a motor driven blower in the condenser section arranged to deliver air under pressure into the shroud through said entry port, a conduit placing the interior of the shroud in communication with the interior of the compressor compartment, whereby a portion of the air under pressure in the shroud is delivered to the compressor compartment as a coolant for the compressor, an air vent in the compressor compartment, a housing covering the evaporator section and the compressor compartment, and a second smaller housing covering the condenser section, the smaller housing being receivable by a single window light and disposed substantially to one side of a line which transversely bisects the mounting panel.

5. A room air conditioner for application to a multiplelight casement window, comprising in combination, a chassis including a condenser section, an evaporator section, a compressor compartment, and a planar mounting panel, the evaporator section and the compressor compartment being extended from one face of the mounting panel, and the condenser section being extended from the opposite face of said panel, a water pan in the condenser section, and a condenser overlying said pan, a hollow shroud having an open side fitted to the condenser, and an opposite side apertured to provide an air entry port, a motor driven blower in the condenser section arranged to deliver a blast of air under pressure over the water pan and into the shroud through said entry port, bafile means including inclined plate means fixed substantially at pan level and in the path of the air blast, for elevating some of the water from the pan as the blast drives the water up the inclined plate means, a turbulence generator in the form of a stationary strap having front and rear faces arranged transversely to the air blast, the front face being exposed to the air blast, thereby creating a vacuum behind the rear face of the strap and into which some of the pan water is attracted, to induce atomization of the water entering the shroud, a housing covering the evaporator section and the compressor compartment, and a second smaller housing covering the condenser section, the smaller housing being disposed substantially to one side of a line which transversely bisects the mounting panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,359,051 Roper Sept. 26, 1944 2,540,957 Newton Feb. 6, 1951 2,654,233 Shoemaker Oct. 6, 1953 

